2014 Corvette Z51 versus Tesla S Drag Test

Yesterday HOT ROD wrote about an interesting experimental General Motors vehicle called the Electrovair II, a 1966 Corvair converted to battery power. Its performance was similar to the air-cooled Corvair but only had a cruising range of 40-80 miles before a six-hour charge was needed. Electric cars have experienced resurgence in recent years, no longer the funky commuter cars that looked like they were designed by industrial designers.

So how does America’s Electric Vehicle compete with America’s Sports Car down the quarter mile? Drag Times paired a 2014 Tesla S P85 with an automatic-equipped 2014 Corvette Stingray Z51 just to find out.

1/2Photos courtesy of Drag Times

The Tesla Model S is the very same one that we see often in the carpool lanes in metro Los Angeles. Its derivative styling doesn’t move us (can you say Jaguar knock-off?), but its business model is completely different from anything coming from Detroit. However, the Tesla has us scratching our chins due to the instant torque that electric motors provide – 443 lbs/ft. The test car was the sportier P85 model, which has 416 horsepower (over 110 more than the base S 60 model) and a claimed 0-60 in 4.2 seconds and the quarter mile in 12.6.

In the other corner is the 2014 Corvette Stingray Z51. Horsepower is 455 (460 with optional performance exhaust system, which gives a claimed 0-60 in 3.8 seconds according to Chevrolet. For under 60 grand, you can have a car that’s twice as awesome as the Lamborghini Countach that you had on a poster on your bedroom wall (which was 4.9 seconds at best). Motor Trend achieved 12.2 seconds in the quarter mile.

With much less mass to move, the Corvette initially seems to be the favored winner down the 1320, but with the instant torque of electric motors, the Tesla stands a chance. Who will win the drag test?